- Concerns Over iPhone 12 Radiation Prompt Investigations in Germany and Belgium
- Discrepancies in SAR Measurements Spark Debate
- Comparing iPhone 12 Radiation Levels to Other Devices
Two days after France banned sales of the iPhone 12 due to radiation concerns, regulators in Germany and Belgium will examine potential health risks linked to the device.
Radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body during testing of the smartphone exceeded legal limits by 40 percent, according to a report released by French regulators on Tuesday.
Apple contested the French findings, claiming that the iPhone 12 had been certified by multiple international organizations as meeting radiation standards.
Germany and Belgium regulators have now stated that they could follow France’s example, while Italy and Spain continue to monitor the situation.
The French watchdogs reached their conclusion after conducting random tests on 141 mobile devices, including the iPhone 12.
European sales of iPhone 12s are unknown, however Apple recorded net sales of $68.64 million in 2020 and 100 million globally.
However, if the research proves true, it would position the iPhone well above the highest-known emitters like the Motorola Edge and ZTE Axon 11 5G.
The specific absorption rate (Sar), which measures the quantity of energy absorbed by the body when exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic waves from electronic devices such as mobile phones, is limited by EU law.
When held next to the ear or thorax, the limit is two watts per kilogram, whereas it is four watts per kilogram when held or kept in a pocket.
The French agency that regulates radio frequencies, Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR), reported that the Sar for the iPhone 12 when carried was 5.74 watts per kilogram.
The ANFR stated on its website, “Apple must immediately correct affected phones to comply with sold phones.” Apple will have to recall them otherwise.
However, according to Apple’s website, the iPhone 12 has a Sar of 0.98 watts per kilogram when held next to the ear and 0.99 watts per kilogram when carried or stored in a pocket, which is significantly lower than what the French claim.
Over the past two decades, many research have examined cell phone health risks.
According to the World Health Organisation, their use has not been linked to any adverse health effects.
Mathieu Michel, the state secretary for digitalization in Belgium, stated in an email to Reuters, ‘It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of all citizens.
I quickly sought out the IBPT-BIPT (regulator) to request a report on the product’s potential danger.
According to the tech giant’s website, the radiofrequency energy of previous iPhone models does not exceed 0.99. Apple released its iPhone 15 lineup on Tuesday.
The Federal Office for Radiation in Germany has released information regarding the top-emitting devices as of 2022.
SAR, measured in watts per kilogram of body mass, quantifies the amount of energy absorbed per kilogram of body mass by the human body when exposed to a radio frequency.
In the United States, the legal limit is 1.6 volts per kilogram.
The Motorola Edge (1.79 w/kg), OnePlus 6T (1.55 w/kg), Sony Xperia XA2 Plus (1.41 w/kg), Google Pixel 3 XL (1.39 w/kg), and the Google Pixel 4a (1.37 w/kg) in a tie with the Oppo Reno5 5G (1.37 w/kg) emanate the most radiation on the market.
The Google Pixel 3 (1.33 w/kg), Huawei’s P Smart (1.27 w/kg), and the OnePlus 9 (1.26 w/kg) followed closely behind.
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G (0.19 w/kg), Samsung Galaxy Note10 (0.21 w/kg), Samsung Galaxy A80 (0.22 w/kg), LG G7 ThinQ (0.24 w/kg), and Motorola Razr 5G (0.27 w/kg) emit the least amount of energy.
